Fishermen in Tema and its environs are unhappy with authorities at the Tema Ports for what they say is the dumping of vessels along the coast. This they claim is having an adverse effect on their fishing activities. The Ghanaian Times reports that the Chief of Tema is equally unhappy about the development and is asking the Ghana Port and Harbours Authority to find a suitable way of disposing off vessels that are not seaworthy. Richter Nii Amarh Amarfio who works with an NGO said the practice has adverse effects on the activities of fishermen. He said his outfit, the Corporate Social Responsibility Movement has written to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority complaining about the inconvenience the dumping of the vessels along the coast of Tema to Kpone is having on the residents and the fishermen. He said the vessels are sometimes dumped at fishing ground adding, “What it means is that when you dump them at fishing ground, fishermen may not know. So they cast their net and their nets are entangled. They lose their nets and that is a whole lot of investment,” he lamented. But the The Ghana Ports and Habours Authority in a response insisted there is very little it can do about the situation. Its Public Affairs Manager Oscar Cudjoe told Joy News the GPHA has only two choices- dump the vessels close to the West Africa Pipeline-Project or the shores. “In an emergency situation like this if the vessel should sink near the West Africa Gas Pipeline or on it that will be the worst scenario for the country. So between the two devils, [leaving] the vessels at the coast is the best option,” he said. Meanwhile, the Ghana Maritime Authority said it has not been formally been notified about the situation and can only take action based on a comprehensive report. Source; Joy News/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana